Hi Can you guide me about the interview process for BCGX for AI enginerring role or software engineer at bain. How is the process different from traditional consulting also what salaries to expect for these roles in middle east region?

Process (BCGX / Bain tech roles)
These are not traditional consulting interviews.

You should expect:

• Technical interviews (coding, data, ML, system design depending on the role)
• Deep dives on your past projects
• Questions on how your technical work solves real business problems

You should not expect:

• Classic consulting cases
• Market sizing or profitability frameworks

They still care a lot about how clearly you think and explain things, especially to non technical people.

Key difference vs consulting

• Much higher technical bar
• Less focus on frameworks, more on real experience
• Partner rounds test judgment, communication, and client credibility, not casing

A common mistake is going too deep into technical details without explaining why it matters for the client.

Compensation in the Middle East

• Generally strong and tax free
• Often includes relocation and housing (if not from region)
• Net take home is usually very attractive

Exact numbers depend a lot on level and role, but pay is competitive vs local tech roles.

Hi Maha,

If you’re targeting the Middle East specifically, the process and expectations are broadly the same, with a few regional nuances.

For BCG X in the Middle East, interviews are still heavily technical. Expect coding, ML or data science problem solving, and system or solution design discussions, with some focus on how you apply these skills in real client contexts. There are no traditional consulting cases, but they do care about structured thinking and how you explain complex ideas to non-technical stakeholders.

For Bain software or AI roles in the Middle East, interviews are also much closer to tech interviews than consulting ones. You’ll typically see technical screens, system design or product-style problem solving, and behavioral interviews. Business context matters, but not classic case frameworks.

Compensation in the Middle East is generally strong relative to local tech markets and often includes relocation support, housing allowances, and bonuses. While total pay may be lower than US tech roles, it’s usually competitive and tax advantages can make net compensation attractive, especially in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Riyadh. Exact ranges depend a lot on level and experience.

Best,
Evelina

This is a fantastic area to explore; the technical arms of MBB are experiencing huge growth, especially in the ME region. You're making a smart pivot by recognizing the process shift.

The core challenge for candidates targeting BCG X or Bain tech roles is bridging the gap between high-level engineering and commercial context. You are essentially interviewing for a hybrid role. While the technical screens (coding, system design, ML theory) are essential passes, where candidates most frequently fail is during the partner/director rounds when they are tested on commercial maturity. They want to see that your robust technical solution (e.g., a specific MLOps pipeline) directly connects to a measurable business outcome (e.g., 5% margin increase or 15% reduction in latency).

To succeed, dedicate time to framing your technical experience as case studies. Do not just describe the architecture of your projects; structure your answer to lead with the client problem, detail the technical solution you designed, and conclude with the quantified impact on the organization. This shows you can design a system and sell it to a C-suite who cares only about ROI.

Regarding compensation, the previous details are spot on: focus on the total package. In Dubai or Riyadh, the tax-free status combined with typical MBB allowances (housing, transport, education for dependents) means your net disposable income often surpasses what similar base salaries offer in high-tax US or EU markets, making the offer very attractive.

All the best!

These interviews are quite different from regular consulting interviews. Most advice online mixes them up, which can confuse you.

For BCGX AI Engineering and Bain software roles, the interview process combines consulting and technical tests.

This is how the process typically works:

A technical interview about your skills, like ML systems, data pipelines, or software architecture. A coding test or a take-home assignment. A case study or problem-solving round, but focused on product or technical problems, not traditional business strategy. A fit interview, but they care more about how you work with consultants and talk to clients than about classic leadership stories.

Traditional consulting interviews ask: "How do you solve unclear business problems?" These tech roles ask: "Can you build things that actually work and explain them to people who aren't technical?"

You still need structured thinking. But you also need to show real technical skills.

About pay in the Middle East: these roles usually pay a bit less than traditional consulting jobs at the same level. For mid-level engineering roles in the UAE, expect around 35,000 to 55,000 AED per month. This depends on the office, your experience, and your specialization. Traditional BCG or Bain consultants at the same level usually earn 10 to 20 percent more. Bonuses are also structured differently.